Benson & Clegg

LONDON'S PREMIER BESPOKE TAILORS & GENTLEMEN'S ACCESSORIES

[bensonandclegg]

Working #newyearseve dedication? #bespoke #tailoring #madeinengland #london

[bensonandclegg]

Red velvet Smoking jacket and matching bow tie ready for our #christmas window display

[bensonandclegg]

Brazil 10 Centavos Hand Decorated Coin Cufflinks

[bensonandclegg]

Benson & Clegg Balmoral Tweed Jacket

[bensonandclegg]

Royal Engineers Hand Embroidered Blazer Badge

[bensonandclegg]

Argentina Coin Cufflinks

[bensonandclegg]

A wonderful example of a @bensonandclegg stand and fall collar on a 100% cashmere overcoat. #bespoke #tailoring #tailor #handmade #craftmanship #madetomeasure #custom #custommade #personaltalioring #london #menswear #mensstyle #style #royal #royalfamily #men #cool #royalwarrant #work #princeofwales #princecharles #queen #cloth #nyc #newyork #Washington #dc #usa

[bensonandclegg]

10 things I can't work without:

1/ Vintage tailors Set Square for cutting my bespoke patterns.

2/ White square chalk for my bespoke patterns, marking out, marking up and for using in the customer fittings.

3/ 3" metal tipped inch and centimetre tape measure

4/ Chalk sharpener to make sure I have perfectly clean and -sharp chalk marks.

5/ My metre stick & 18" bevel edged and metal ended wooden inch stick.

6/ Vintage 100 year old Wilkinson Sword diamond edged cutting shears that have never been sharpened. These are for my hands only and only to be used for cutting cloth. Woe betides anyone who tries to pick them up or even look at them. Also my paper and trimming shears, I am very protective of these too.

7/ Brown pattern paper.

8/ 1" 1/8 steel pins nickel plated.

9/ Revolving rubber ended Bic pencils also for creating the perfect bespoke patterns.

10/ Tailors thimble this is very important to me in my working day.

  Tony

[email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

Back to the Old School

There is often a lot of negative press about “Old Boy networks” and the association of “Old School Ties” which have led some people to think twice about wearing ties that they are entitled to wear. At Benson & Clegg we sell a range of Old School and University ties and feel that people should wear theirs with pride.

I am personally entitled to wear the King’s College London (below) and University of London ties, so can often be seen sporting these in store and out. These can be teamed with associated cufflinks if you are feeling particularly proud.

  The old school tie is also a quick but subtle indicator to others of your association with a particular school/university. Customers have commented on my King’s College London tie and I enjoy talking to them about our time at our shared Alma Mater.

  Jamie

[email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

My New Favourite Pattern..Dogtooth

Dogtooth, also known as Houndstooth, is a popular pattern choice for casual wear, but is less often seen on business suits. The dogtooth pattern originated in the Scottish Lowlands and gets its name from the shape of a dog’s jagged back teeth, which mimics the pattern. It is a pattern I have only recently thought about including in my wardrobe, but I think it has been a good decision.

I wanted my newest suit to look a bit different from the norm, so chose a Navy Dogtooth from the Holland & Sherry InterCity fabric bunch. This looks like a normal navy suit from a distance, but up close you can see the distinctive dogtooth design.  This is a good fabric choice to jazz up the normally conservative business suit. To make the look even less conservative, I am wearing it today with red socks and brown suede Rolando Sturlini Fringe Monk shoes (see below).

  I kept the dogtooth theme with my newest sports jacket, with a brown dogtooth from Reid & Taylor. This cloth is a wool & cashmere blend. This is a classic looking jacket which I have embellished with Benson & Clegg Bronze East India Company buttons (see below). I have enjoyed wearing this with an open neck shirt and casual trousers, perfect for a night out on the town.

    Now, time to look through the fabric bunches now to choose my next dogtooth.....

Jamie

[email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

Retro tweed (decision's decision's)

My good friend Charles Inness, co-owner of Hunters tweed (formally Hunters of Brora) was in town this week to see me to be measured for his new shooting/sports jacket and blazer.

He has given me a length of his beautiful and very practical 14/15oz all wool cloth that is a brown base colour with a dark brown window pane check with a red and green over check.

We making it in a single breasted three button shooting style with a storm collar, action back and a half belt (fixed). We decided together to have a vibrant red under collar to match the red in the over check and a forest green coloured lining to also match the over check. We will more than likely decided to add a matching natural horn button for aesthetic and practical reasons.

  This style of coat had become increasingly more popular for us of late especially with our clients from the USA. This style blends effortless chic with a very practical element.

His new blazer will be a classic Benson and Clegg style with a maroon coloured under collar and a maroon lining to match. Charles has decided to go for the famous Benson and Clegg Thistle blazer button to give a beautiful finish to the garment.

 I will look forward to showing you the finished pieces soon.

  Tony    [email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

Benson & Clegg at Buckingham Palace

Thursday 11th July was quite a special day for Benson & Clegg. It was the day that we were at Buckingham Palace, the prestigious jewel in London’s crown, for the start of a four day event called ‘The Coronation Festival’ (https://www.coronationfestival.com/). The festival itself was a showcase of the best of British industry. All of the exhibitors were like us, Royal Warrant holders. The Royal Warrant is a prestigious mark of recognition to those who are regular suppliers of goods and services to the Households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and, in our case, HRH The Prince of Wales.

The surroundings could not have been better. Guests mingled, champagne flowed and trade boomed. I particular enjoyed meeting so many people not just from all over the UK, but from across the globe as well. All of whom were fascinated to learn more about our unique heritage and quality brand. We displayed a selection of our buttons, badges and ties to provide a good showcase of our range and explain to visitors the processes of making the products and highlighting the British quality customers come to expect of Benson & Clegg. But it wasn’t all work, in the evening guests were treated to a thrilling concert of varied music featuring such luminaries as Kathryn Jenkins and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. A real highlight to be sure.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family were in attendance at the festival, and Her Majesty in particular gave our stand a good look. The festival gave the public not only a glimpse into a royal world, but also a keen insight into the many types of company that supply the Royal Household and the diverse range of products and services on offer.

The Coronation Festival was also the ideal opportunity to promote our newly created blazer button ‘Britannia’, created in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th coronation anniversary. It proved a big hit and we have now added this to our full range of blazer buttons. These can be purchased directly from our website: http://goo.gl/toseJY

A fantastic four days were had by myself and all the team, and we are hoping to get involved in more festivals and exhibitions over the coming months, and we’ll be sure to keep you informed. We always welcome visits from our many enthusiasts!

Mark 

[email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

Blazer Specialist

  At Benson and Clegg we pride ourselves on being the Savile Row tailor that specialises in everything thing to do with men's blazers.

To start with we offer an off the peg single and double breasted blazer, this is made from a very fine English 11 / 12 oz merino wool that is good for all  year round use.

We also offer our made to measure service in which the customer can choose from a wide range of fabrics and linings made to the style of his choice, may it be a single or double breasted with straight, slanted or patch pockets

We also provide our customers with the very best in London made bespoke tailoring. With this option the world is your oyster when it comes to your cloth, lining and style selection. This garment is made completely by hand by the cutters and tailors in our Mayfair shop.

  To go with any of these tailoring options you can also choose from one of our vast range of hand made, made in England blazer buttons. We have over 120 styles of button to choose from for your new blazer. You can choose a classic black horn button, a traditional die stamped gold button or a unique engraved button with the engraving of your choice. The engraved buttons can be your initials, family crest or club logo.

 If it takes your fancy you can also have a choice of one of our many hand made blazer badges that range from classic generic designs such as our crown and lion or go for a more intricate badge such as our beautiful City of London design, the choice is yours.

  We also provide a bespoke blazer button and bespoke blazer badge service that works perfectly for an individual, club or association.

  Tony

[bensonandclegg]

USA Tailoring Visit. Traditionally Savile Row tailors visit the USA on a regular basis, this could be three or four times annually.

Benson and Clegg are no different, we travel to New York and Washington D. C. three times a year. While we are in New York we work from a show room on East and 53rd street in between Fifth and Madison and from Washington  we work from the well renowned Sterling and Burke store on Pennsylvania Avenue Georgetown.

The reason for our trip is to service our USA clients with the finest in English tailoring made from the worlds best fabrics, whether that be English or Italian. We offer two different types of tailoring, firstly and most traditionally we offer our full English hand made bespoke service which is cut and made 100% in our London store in the Piccadilly Arcade Mayfair.

The other tailoring service that we offer is our city wardrobe product which is our hand cut made to measure option. With this option you have the choice of cloth and lining with no compromise.  You also get to choose the style of the garment, may it be a traditional 2 show 3 double breasted blazer or a more modern one button front district check tweed. The choice is yours. You can check out the dates for our next visit on our website www.bensonandclegg.com We look forward to seeing you whether that is in London or the USA. Tony - [email protected]

[bensonandclegg]

Please let me introduce myself, my name is Tony Martin, I am a director and senior cutter at Benson and Clegg. I have been working on and around Savile Row for the past 13 years and I was lucky enough to start my tailoring apprenticeship at the world famous Gieves and Hawkes N.o.1 Savile Row. I was a little bit of a late starter into the tailoring trade at the ripe old age of 21, but as I was soon to find out I was the perfect age and had the right personality to be able to cope with such an important position that was to be bestowed upon me. I was invited to work solely and directly in the cutting room to learn the ancient art of bespoke pattern cutting and garment fitting. At the time I did not realise how much of a great honour this was and only now I can appreciate what an unbelievable opportunity it was.

Traditionally Savile Row cutters had to serve their tailoring apprenticeship on the board as a tailor for 4-5 years and then if they were lucky enough they would be asked to join the cutting room. Fortunately I had a great mentor and fantastic teacher in Brian Jeffery (master tailor) with over 50 years of experience. I had no prior bespoke training or textile background, but I had a passion for clothes and a desire to work hard and succeed. I later joined Benson and Clegg Royal warrant holder and tailor to the late King George the VI. It has been my pleasure and my good fortune that I have been able hone my pattern cutting skills and enhanced my garment fitting ability alongside Benson and Clegg owner, M.D. and Master Tailor Kenneth Austin.

I am looking forward to introducing you to my world as a Savile Row Cutter / Tailor and help guide you in the right direction through the mine field that is mens tailoring.

[bensonandclegg]

Benson & Clegg Feature On The Travel Channel UK

Want to get a sneak peek into the tailoring world of Benson & Clegg? Then look no further with this short video, filmed in March 2013, which was commissioned by the Travel Channel UK as part of a series called 'Jenny's Streets Of London'. It features TV's Jenny Powell as she visited some of the city's greatest hidden treasures, which naturally includes Benson & Clegg!. The video is displayed by kind permission of the Travel Channel.

[bensonandclegg]

A Country on the Cuff

The love of both cufflinks and traveling can be combined in Benson and Clegg’s coin cufflinks. Have you recently completed a gap year in Africa, got married in Barbados or want to show your pride in your Indian heritage? Show this with your choice of cufflink.

Coins often feature famous landmarks, coat of arms and portraits of monarchs. These details can be brought to life with the painstaking attention we pay to hand decorating each pair of coin cufflinks. Each pair is individually crafted, with a focus on quality.

We have an extensive and varied selection of beautifully crafted coins, from Russian Roubles to Falkland Island Pennies, US State Quarters, Brazilian Centavos and many more. 

We can also commission your own coins. My personal collection (above) includes countries I have recently traveled to. I have Vietnamese Dong, Thai Baht, Cambodian Riels and Indian Anna’s from the East India Company. These are unique cufflinks that will make you stand out from the crowd.

These beautifully hand decorated coins truly become a work of art, not just a numismatical novelty.

For more details please visit the coin cufflink section of our website: http://www.bensonandclegg.com/shop/index.php?cPath=22_42 or email [email protected]